10 Reasons to hold your event in Kerry

10 Reasons to hold your event in Kerry

The Kingdom is full of surprises and hidden gems and is known the world over for its famous hospitality. If you want to inspire, engage, motivate and reward your delegates and you haven’t considered Kerry before, it’s time to take a look!

Here are ten reasons why you should #MeetInKerry for your next event…

A Warm Kerry Welcome

Kerry has been welcoming visitors and delegates for centuries. The Kerry Welcome is world renowned and reflected in numerous national and international awards. The locals love to chat and have the ‘craic’ sharing stories and more than a few tall tales and will always do what they can to help.

The key destinations in Kerry regularly feature in ‘Top Irish and World Destinations to Visit’ lists and our hotels are some of the most highly rated in the world.

In February 2016, Trivago named Killarney as one of the top 10 global tourist destinations to visit in the world! This success was due not only to the destination’s scenery and activities, but also the hospitality sector. We are proud to say that the Kingdom of Kerry is Ireland’s most popular tourist destination.

Diverse and Inspiring Region

Kerry has the highest concentration of 4 & 5* hotels in Ireland, offering unrivalled facilities in idyllic locations for business events groups. Kerry Convention Bureau has member properties in each of the five main destinations, all of which are MICE ready.

Killarney has over 3000 3-5* bedrooms and is a compact town with the infrastructure of a major city. Home to Ireland’s second largest convention centre, it is known as the ‘Town in the Park’ with 26,000 acres of National Park on its doorstep.

Kenmare is a haven of tranquillity, gourmet food, 5* accommodation and breath-taking scenery, nestled in a bay with dramatic coast to the south and rugged mountains to the north.

Sneem is a picturesque village situated in the famous “Ring of Kerry” a driving and cycling route that encapsulates some of the best nature has to offer.

Tralee is the bustling county town where venues are within close proximity and activities are abound in the natural playground which surrounds the town.

Dingle is known for its colourful buildings, rugged scenery, trails and sandy beaches as well as its most famous resident, Fungie the dolphin.

A destination ‘Out of this World’

It is said in Kerry that, “There are only two kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry. One is not of this world and the other is out of this world!” The Kingdom of Kerry, with our forty shades of green fields, the wild Atlantic Ocean to the west and the highest mountains in Ireland, is eulogized in myth and song. Visit the Skellig Islands, a UNESCO world heritage site, drive the 179km Ring of Kerry circuit, breathe in the rugged coastal beauty and sail the Atlantic shore. After your delegates have exhausted themselves outdoors, take time to sit by the fire and listen to the traditional Irish music, sample local artisan food, laugh with the locals and listen to the native Irish tongue (as Gaeilge) being spoken.

Extraordinary Events

Kerry Convention Bureau offers a free and impartial service facilitating connections to passionate, local suppliers who are committed to working together to make your event a success. Our team can assist with creative ideas to build into your program ensuring delegates remember and talk about your event for years to come. We are on hand to work closely with you from the bidding process right through to post event follow up.

As a destination and an industry, #TeamKerry have a proven track record of working together to deliver large scale, extraordinary events for international corporations and associations, with these conferences and events regularly attracting record numbers of delegates.

Safety, Security and Peace of Mind

With the recent series of terrorist acts around the world, security issues have become a concern when selecting overseas venues for future events. Ireland is one of the most stable, friendly peaceful and safe countries in the world but, just don’t take our word for it:

Lonely Planet has previously named Ireland the MOST friendly country in the world, and the country regularly takes out the top spots on lists by Trivago, Trip Advisor etc for friendly hospitality, sociable locals and outstanding service.

The Global Peace Index rates 158 nations worldwide on measures such as conflict, safety and security in society and militarisation. In 2018, it ranked Ireland the 10th most peaceful place on Earth!

Both Killarney and Tralee are recipients of the Purple Flag award. This is an international accreditation recognising excellence in the management of the evening and night-time economy and a safe and friendly environment in which to live, socialise and work.

Home to International Industry and Leaders

A wide range of key industries provide solid business reasons to choose Kerry for your next event.

The region has a strong economy and offers a wide range of business sectors, including sector leading tourism, manufacturing, healthcare, engineering, food technology and financial services. The fishing industry is still strong and Kerry also has a successful aquaculture industry.

As a world leading tourism destination, the region builds on this strength with dedicated research and training hubs such as the Irish Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (IAHT) located at the Institute of Technology, Tralee.

What does this mean for you? Expert local knowledge that adds depth to your business event. Inject a local perspective by using Kerry industry professionals as guest speakers; undertake technical tours and factory visits around the region and gain extra attendance by attracting regionally-based Kerry delegates.

Easy to get to

Getting to Kerry is easier than you think. The region is serviced by three international airports, Shannon, Cork and Dublin and one regional airport. As a major tourist destination, there are many well-developed transport options available once in region, with well-established rail, bus and road networks. Whichever way you travel, a journey to the Kingdom offers the scenic route every time.

The Gaelic Language

Kerry is home to two of Ireland’s native Irish speaking (Gaeltacht) areas; one on the Dingle Peninsula and the other on the Iveragh Peninsula. The Kerry Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 642 km2 and has a population of 8,729, representing 8.6% of Ireland’s total native full-time Irish speaking population. The Irish speaking areas only add to the lore of the countryside. This region is rich in Irish culture and folklore brought to life through music, theatre, dance and the written word and is a fascinating step for all our visitors into our heritage and history.

Wild Atlantic Way

Kerry is proud to be part of the Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest coastal driving route along the rugged Atlantic coast from north to south. Stretching 2,500km, the route provides breath-taking views and magical experiences. With an ‘Edge of The World Feeling’, this is as far west as Ireland gets; ‘Next parish Manhattan’ as they say.

Leave the mainland and everyday life far behind and take your delegates on a journey they will never forget! Create diverse and memorable programs with activities such as paddle boarding with dolphins, speaking Irish in the Gaeltacht, landing on a deserted archipelago once home to Ireland’s greatest born storytellers, sailing to a World Heritage listed site of medieval pilgrimage or star gazing under Ireland’s darkest skies at Kerry’s Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserve, one of only three in the world.

The County Kerry stage of the Wild Atlantic Way is over 500 kms long, stretching from the tranquil village of Lauragh and ending in scenic north Kerry at the Tarbert ferry to Co Clare.

Céad Míle Failte

Hopefully by now you recognise that Kerry is a thriving, bohemian, cultural region surrounded by stunning nature, adventurous landscapes and the Wild Atlantic Way. We would love to have the opportunity to extend our traditional “Céad Míle Failte” translated from the traditional Gaelic as “a hundred thousand welcomes” to your next business event

Request for Proposal

Kerry Convention Bureau offers a free and impartial service, providing expert local advice, venue sourcing and facilitating connections to passionate, local suppliers who are committed to working together to make your event a success

Let us help you bring your meeting, conference, incentive or event to the beautiful Kingdom of Kerry by completing the form below and a member of our dedicated team will be in touch.